A boys' club that produced a generation of Geordie football legends now wants to do the same for girls.

Wallsend Boys' Club, which produced soccer star Alan Shearer and former Newcastle United stars Peter Beardsley, Steve Watson and Lee Clark, is now seeking girls aged 13 and under for their first all-girls football team.

Club Treasurer, Steve Dale, 42, of Tynemouth said: "There has been an interest among girls for some time but practicalities have been tripping us up. The club is very male-orientated and we needed women referees to come forward before we could think about starting girls teams."

Barbara Parker, 42, of Sunningdale Ave, Wallsend, has been bringing her children to the club for years and decided to volunteer for the role of referee.

Her son, Ross Parker, 12, has been playing at the club since he was six and his sister Amy, 10, has always accompanied him. Today she was set to play in the first all girls' game.

Mrs Parker said: "The club does have mixed teams for the younger children but I felt there needed to be an all girls' team.

"Amy is a dedicated footballer and this will really benefit her as at the moment she plays with mainly boys.

"We're never far from the club and are here most evenings. It's only a few minutes walk from our home so it's ideal."

Amy is very excited about playing the first all girls' game today and said: "I'm really looking forward to playing with my friends and it being just girls."

Mary Ayres, 36, director of community development for the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity, gave her views on the new girls' team and said: "Football is the most popular girls' team sport at the moment, overtaking netball.

"I think it's absolutely fabulous and where better to have a girls' team than Wallsend to raise the next Alan Shearer or the next Anna Shearer?

"I think more boys' clubs should start girls' teams. It's something that should be encouraged to enable girls to become better and hopefully go on to represent England."

Amy's brother Ross teases her as he thinks football should be left to the boys but Amy insists girls are just as good as boys at the game and wants to go on to play professionally.

Mr Dale said: "We need to invest more for the girls so this trial run will help us to test the demand and plan for changes."

The trial period will begin today. Any girls interested in playing should contact Wallsend Boys' Club on (0191) 262 3051.